The Korea Professional Football Association is conducting urgent safety inspections at all K League stadiums following a recent incident at Pohang Steel Yard.
During a match on August 8 between Pohang Steelers and Ulsan Hyundai in the Hana Bank K League 1, a piece of concrete fell from the ceiling of the away seating area, causing a frightening situation.
Although a spectator seated in the affected area was not directly hit, they sustained a minor abrasion on their hand. Fortunately, the injury did not require hospitalization, and the individual declined to be taken to a hospital.
Opened in 1990, Pohang Steel Yard is the first soccer-specific stadium in South Korea and is now 36 years old. Concerns about the aging facilities have grown, especially after this incident heightened fans' anxieties.
Last March, a similar incident occurred at Changwon NC Park during a KBO League game, where a structural failure led to injuries among spectators, increasing awareness of stadium safety management.
In response, the association announced on August 10 that it would implement measures to address the situation proactively. The association stated, "We have sent a notice to all clubs requesting urgent safety inspections of stadium facilities today, and each club is expected to complete the inspections before their next home game. Through this urgent inspection, we will check for any abnormalities in facilities that could impact spectator safety and request immediate repairs and safety measures if necessary."
Additionally, the association has been conducting 'Major Accident Prevention Stadium Safety Inspections' in collaboration with safety inspection companies since this year. Inspections of 10 stadiums were completed in the first half of the year, with 19 more scheduled for the second half. The association added, "We plan to continue follow-up management by checking the actions taken by each club regarding issues identified during the first half inspections."
The Pohang club has also quickly initiated on-site measures. They explained, "The concrete ceiling at Pohang Steel Yard was undergoing phased inspections and repairs due to aging when the incident occurred. We will conduct special reinforcement inspections in the affected area starting August 10."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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